Apex industry body ASSOCHAM has welcomed the draft National Digital Communications Policy (NDCP) 2018 that provides much-needed impetus for light-touch, technology friendly framework to propel innovation and efficiency via communications. Stating the ASSOCHAM view, Mr D S Rawat, Secretary General, said, “the telecommunications sector is a critical enabler for Digital India and this proposed new policy is designed to empower Indian telecom to fulfil this designated role to achieve the larger vision. It is holistic, progressive and forward-looking for it rightly considers all aspects vital for the development and growth of the sector to deliver connectivity for all in both urban and rural areas, across the country, amidst an evolving landscape of convergence across technologies and platforms”.

Mr P Balaji, Chairman, National Council on Telecommunication and Convergence, ASSOCHAM, added, “The draft shared for public views is a well thought through document focused on making the sector financially strong and sustainable with requisite licensing and regulatory reforms, review and reduction of costs such as SUC, USO levies and concept of pass-through revenues in line with principles of input line credit”.

“This progressive policy draft, setting aspirational goals provides much-needed impetus for light-touch, technology friendly framework to further propel innovation and efficiency via communications. Its forward-looking focus to usher in new technologies such as 5G, IoT and AI etc. emphasises on the need to build a state-of-the-art telecom and digital infrastructure and recognising it as essential infrastructure like roadways, railways etc. for the overall development of India”, said Mr Balaji.

ASSOCHAM also lauded the efforts of the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) under the leadership of Manoj Sinha, Minister for Communications and Aruna Sundararajan, Secretary of Telecom, for taking another major step towards the development and progress of the Telecommunications Sector.

As a responsible industry chamber, ASSOCHAM has played its due role in providing relevant inputs directly and by providing a platform for the exchange of thoughts and ideas amongst all stakeholders that helped shape the future of this important sector, vital for the socio-economic growth of the country, a media statement from the apex body added.